Ambulance staff in Gloucestershire have issued “heartfelt apologies” to families, friends and community for the 999 service in the county and called on the top boss to step down.

Their letter apologises for not being able to reach patients quickly enough, leaving people in hospital corridors and arriving at the scene so tired after a 12 hour shift that they fear making a wrong clinical decision.

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They have also apologised to family and friends for missing holidays, birthdays being stressed, angry, frustrated, unhappy and sad when they are at home.

Union chiefs say staff are under intolerable pressure struggling to maintain an underfunded, crumbling service which is being managed badly at a local level.

Ken Wenman has come under fire from staff

And the GMB members have called on Chief Executive, Ken Wenman to resign saying the latest changes to the rota has destroyed what was left of their work life balance.

The open letter was signed by “Concerned SWAST Ambulance Employees” on behalf of the GMB members in South Western Ambulance Service which covers Gloucestershire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, North and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

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The ambulance staff apologise to their bosses for being not hitting targets for reaching critically ill patients in time and say it is because they are stretched over such a wide area.

Ambulance crews apologise

"Although we love what we do, behind the professional facade we portray to the public we are struggling to maintain a crumbling service deliberately being underfunded by the Government and made worse when those over pressured resources and stressed staff are then badly managed locally," says the open letter. "If you’re unfortunate enough to have to call us, please remember that although we will potentially often be the Deliverer of the First High Quality Care you receive in an accident or illness, we are not only not classified as an Emergency Service by the government but not appreciated or cared for by our employer."

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The union claim they were forced to send “heartfelt apologies” in an open letter because management are ignoring complaints and calls for change.

Gary Palmer GMB Regional NHS Campaign Organiser said: "Although we are unfortunately regularly being contacted by members and concerned staff over any number of growing issues at SWAST, we felt this recent letter on behalf of a group of GMB members particularly summoned up the general despair and frustration many staff currently feel from working within a service and role they love.

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"The trust are failing to address major issues and the toll from not doing so is having an enormous effect upon increasing numbers of staff, as they consider whether they wish to remain within this particular ambulance service or not. "

The union say the numerous issues have effect on front line ambulance professionals and the patients they ultimate serve, and say Mr Wenman is out of touch. "It’s time for the Chief Executive to stand down and for any replacement to be clear on wanting to do more to protect and support the trust’s most valuable resource, its own staff," it concludes.

Ambulance crews raced to the scene

But bosses at SWAST have rejected the GMB claim saying management have good relationships with staff.

"We absolutely recognise the pressure that they are under and we are working hard with them and with Unison, the recognised union, to improve resource levels, to improve our response to our patients and to improve the health and wellbeing of our staff."

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Ken added: “We are proud of the way that we work closely with all union representatives on behalf of our staff, including GMB, and so it is disappointing that these comments have gone to the media, rather than to us here at the Trust, especially given the meetings that we have recently hosted with GMB representatives where such concerns could have been raised. We would urge the GMB to re-engage and talk to us directly.”

Tony Fox, Chairman of South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT), said: “Along with the rest of the NHS, ambulance services across the country are experiencing significant pressure. So it was particularly pleasing that in the last national staff survey, SWASFT had the best results across all ambulance trusts in the country for their engagement with staff, for the health and wellbeing of staff and for the resources available.

"We accept that there is always more to be done and we will continue to work closely with our colleagues and listen and respond to their needs."

He added: “I would like to say thank you to all our people for the excellent job they do in difficult circumstances. I would also encourage everyone to take part in the latest staff survey as we really do want to hear from you so that we can act on your feedback.”

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